Gary
set the record straight with Mike Willman on TVG here
is a transcript of the part pertinent to the AP story
from 12/16..
Willman did this interview right after Gary's back-to-back
wins at Hollywood yesterday (12/17)
*****************
MW: Let’s talk about your riding and what’s
going on, there’s been some confusion as to
your status going into the winter, what’s going
on Gary?
GLS: Well, unfortunately, there was a report from
the AP released yesterday and I got about ten phone
calls after the evening news last night that I was
retiring or taking an extended holiday. At this point
right now, I don’t have anything on paper about
the acting stuff coming up, and I’m going to
continue to ride indefinitely. I’m keeping all
my options open right now, but for the time being,
I’m a jockey, I’m enjoying doing it, I
had a blast today, and as long as I can ride these
kind I’m going to keep doing it.
MW: Well, I’m glad to hear that Gary, I’ll
tell you what, the paper, I take it home, right on
the front of the sports section it had a quote from
you, saying that by mid-January you were going to
be taking a leave of absence but that’s just
not the case, huh?
GLS: That’s not the case. I spoke to Beth, the
lady from the AP, and it was a wonderful article that
she had written about me, unfortunately, she read
into our conversation what she, those were her quotes,
and I spoke to her last night, there was a retraction
released late last night so hopefully everything will
be cleared up tomorrow. I know on the eleven o’clock
news last night all the channels reiterated what I
just told you, and let everybody know that I’m
here to stay for awhile.
MW: Gary seriously, at this point in time now, you
took some time off after the Breeder’s Cup October
25th to freshen up, you had some residual effects
from that terrible spill at the end of the Arlington
Million, are you enjoying riding now maybe as much
as you ever have?
GLS: Oh, definitely, when I get time to freshen up,
it’s the best thing for a person. We can’t
go year ‘round, especially myself nowadays,
when I’m happy I’m winning races and when
I get bored with what I’m doing it becomes work
and you don’t perform as well, and you know,
I had the time off when I was doing a movie earlier
this spring, came back and rode well, and then I had
the bad injury and probably really wasn’t ready
to come back when I did, I had my reasons for doing
it but I was able to take two months off after that
and I’m back, I feel great right now, and I’m
having fun.
MW: I’ll tell you what Gary, when I think of
you and your career and the remarkable achievements
you’ve had and the way you’re handling
things these days, kind of reminds me of the Frank
Sinatra song, you’re doing it your way, you’ve
staked out this turf, and when you need some time
you’re going to go ahead and take it.
GLS: I’ve been very, very fortunate with the
people that I ride for, they’ve been great with
me, they know how I am, and you know, they’ve
afforded me the luxury of taking time off when I need
it, and I get a lot of support from some great people,
Bob Baffert is always there for me, Jeff Mullins is
there for me, and great owners, so you know, it’s
a great spot to be in and I’m enjoying it.
From
USA Today:
Jockey Stevens to set aside riding for acting
By Beth Harris, The Associated Press http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2003-12-17-stevens-acting_x.htm
Daily
double good bet here - SEABISCUIT COLLECTOR'S EDITION
From
the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/entertainment/7482662.htm
Stevens
scores stakes win on first day back http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?
recno=40616&subsec=2
Here
is more detail in the race itself from the DRF:Excess
Summer takes On Trusthttp://www.drf.com/news/article/52128.html
A
Furturity preview, also from the DRF: http://www.drf.com/news/article/52112.html
After
weeks of nothing, he's suddenly everywhere:
This, out of Louisville, mentions Gary in an article
about promoting racing. It includes what seems to
be a file photograph, although it's a good one that
I've not seen before: http://www.courier-journal.com/business/news2003/12/11/biz-front-marketing11-5596.html
Here's confirmation that Gary will be up and at em'
even before the Malibu. He'll be riding That's an
Outrage in the December 20th Hollywood Futurity: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031211/APS/312111131
And, says ESPN, if you happen do your partying at
the Beverly Hills Hotel Monday nights, you just might
catch a glimpse of our boy:
http://espn.go.com/horse/news/2003/1211/1684260.html
GARY STEVENS IS NOW telling West Coastaneers that
he plans to return to the saddle on Dec. 26, the opening
day of the Santa Anita winter meet. The gods-defying
luck-presser hasn't ridden since Breeders' Cup Day
at Santa Anita. ..Chicago
Sun Times
Stevens,
Buddy Gil team up again
http://www.drf.com/news/article/52007.html
Grade 1 winner Buddy Gil worked six furlongs in a
bullet 1:12 2/5 over Santa Anita's fast main track
Sunday morning with Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens
aboard. The move was the best of 14 who went the distance
on the day.
Seabiscuit
named one of year’s top films
Seabiscuit has been named one of the top ten films
of 2003 by the National Board of Review, the Hollywood
Reporter reported. The movie, based on Laura Hillenbrand’s
best-selling novel Seabiscuit: An American Legend,
stars Tobey Maguire, Gary Cooper, Jeff Bridges, William
H. Macy, and jockey Gary Stevens. It was directed
by Gary Ross, who also wrote the screenplay. The film
was ranked ninth on the list, which included the Clint
Eastwood-directed Mystic River, Master and Commander:
The Far
Side of the World with Russell Crowe, and The Last
Samurai with Tom Cruise.
Here's
a nice piece about a young jockey Gary took into his
home and helped launch ias a professional. http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20031130-9999_1s30horsecol.html
It
is not available online but there is a great article
on Gary in the Ocober 27th
SPORTSILLUSTRATED.
From the DRF
Stevens to take 'extended vacation' http://www.drf.com/news/article/51308.html
From
Reuters:
Seabiscuit star finds life too close to art http://tinyurl.com/u2x7
From
Scotland "And what a revelation great jockey
Gary Stevens is in the role of Woolf"
http://www.sport.scotsman.com/racing.cfm?id=1208952003
Seabiscuit role a piece of cake for Stevens
By Robert Philip http://tinyurl.com/tf8o
(This is an excellent and revealing article)
Will Buckley
Sunday November 2, 2003
The Observer On screen, on track
An
acting role in Seabiscuit, the film about a 1930s
racehorse that has been a huge smash in the United
States, has changed Gary Stevens' life. At 40, Stevens
is one of the world's top jockeys - now he's thinking
about a new career ... http://sport.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4787806-108367,00.html
From
BBC Sport - Movie Review
Seabiscuit on track for glory
By
Scott Burton http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/3220713.stm
Seabiscuit
opens in London on Friday 31 October and nationwide
on 7 November.
This is a really nice article and has a "glamour"
shot of Gary - looks like it might be left over from
the PEOPLE Magazine photo shoot. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/3219037.stm
This
is from the BBC—it’s an interview with
Tobey McGuire and has this very
sweet, very funny story about Gary: http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/10/10/tobey_mcguire_seabiscuit_interview.shtml
Here
is a photo of Gary at the premier: (click through
a slide show to photo #6 to get to Gary http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/photo_galleries/3219417.stm
And here’s a link to a BBC RealPlayer video
about the movie. It includes an interview in which
Tobey McGuire mentions Gary.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39500000/rm/_39500411_seabiscuit08_yeoman_vi.ram
New York Daily news: “It's a nice story, and it could get
much nicer.If it ever becomes a movie, they have to
make the jockey a Gary Stevens type.” http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/v-pfriendly/story/130328p-116428c.html
Chicago
Tribune:
“Stevens
Aboard Horse That Nearly Cost Him His Life.”Julie
Krone has some wonderful things to say about Gary
and Storming Home’sperformance in the Clement
L. Hirsch.
Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8695-2003Oct23.html
Stevens'
story feels right at this Breeders' Cup By Tim Price, CommentaryFort Worth Star Telegram:
(pulling for Gary to win the Shoemake Award) http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/7092713.htm
San Diego Union Tribune
Stevens calm in the wake of Storming Home's tumult By Hank Wesch
October 24, 2003 http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20031024-9999_1s24breeders.html
And
this is from TVBarn.com:
Success of 'Seabiscuit' and Funny Cide pace Breeders'
Cup hopes
posted by Gary Dretzka October 24, 2003 04:10 AM http://www.tvbarn.com/archives/015994.html
10/27
- Neil Drysdale said Sheikh Maktoum’s multiple
Grade/Group 1 winner Storming Home (GB) (Gary's mount)
would not race again after suffering a heel injury
while finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup
Turf (G1). The son of Machiavellian will stand his
first season at Nunnery Stud near Thetford, Norfolk,
England, for $16,978.
10/26
- Stevens to attend British premiere of Seabiscuit
Racing Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who portrayed
racinglegend George “The Iceman” Woolf
in the movie Seabiscuit, will beamong several jockeys
attending the British premiere of the movie,which
will benefit three racing charities, on Monday at
Warner Village, Leicester Square in London.
10/25
- Gary had a long day at the Breeders’ Cup.
Tough breaks and antsy mounts cost him a stop in the
winner’s circle, but he rode well and is now
enjoying a much-deserved hiatus from the saddle to
promote Seabiscuit’s European premiers. "I've
got a really good feeling that after this weekend,
I'm going to hit a wall," Gary said earlier in
the week.
NBC’s
Breeders’ Cup coverage was a boon for Gary’s
fans, as commentators often mentioned his new acting
career and cameras in the jock’s room caught
rare glimpses of his pre-race preparations.
Sprint
Gary’s
mount, Zavata, was a longshot at 25-1 and set a scorching
pace off the first post position—twenty-one
seconds at the first quarter pole. As the field reached
the finish line, however, Zavata tired despite Gary’s
urging and finished twelfth.
Mare/Filly
Turf
Gary
and the filly Musical Chimes performed brilliantly
in the Yellow Ribbon and were favored for this event
at 9-1. An edgy Musical Chimes initially refused to
load, however, and leapt at a point in the course
in which the turf crossed over a ribbon of dirt. Although
Gary expertly steadied the filly, she ran into traffic
early along the rail and Gary had to check her. She
lost momentum and fell back for the rest of the race,
coming in eleventh.
The
Turf
Gary
had to be frustrated with the way the Turf race shook
down. Expectations were high for Gary and Storming
Home, the horse that threw him in the Arlington Million,
then later won the Clement L. Hirsch in convincing
fashion. The pair were the favorites at 9-5 as the
post parade began; Storming Home was fidgety in the
gate but ran well in a tight pack after the bell rang.
Storming Home put up a tough battle, eventually tiring
as a triple photo finish captivated the crowd for
over ten minutes while stewards sorted out the closest
finale in Breeders’ Cup history.
Gary
was initially mystified by Storming Home’s seventh-place
performance; he has tightly bonded with the colt and
has emphasized several times that the mount was the
only reason he pushed to come back from his injuries
as quickly as he did.
"I
was getting bumped around early on. Sulamani was trying
to get out," Gary said after the race. “We
had a smooth trip other than getting bumped around
early on. He just flattened out on me. I don't know
why.”
Later,
however, trainer Neil Drysdale revealed that Storming
Home had suffered an injury early in the race, banging
hooves with his main rival, Sulamani. "First
Sulamani banged into him and then they clipped heels
in the clubhouse turn," Drysdale said the day
after the race. "At first we thought it was a
very strange performance because we could not see
the injury because his foot was covered in dirt. Then
later we saw blood but we still didn’t realize
how bad it was until we cleaned it off. He injured
the bulb of his heel on his right hind."
The
Classic
Gary
and Perfect Drift began the day at 5-1 odds. Although
slightly whirly before loading, Perfect Drift sat
quietly awaiting the start of the race and burst through
a tightly packed break, running well until the first
turn, where Julie Krone and Kentucky Derby/Preakness
winner Funny Cide went wide, taking Gary and Pat Day
on Ten Most Wanted with them.
“There
was a big melee out of the gate,” Gary said
after the race. “(Perfect Drift) is a big, strong
horse and he escaped out of that.
“Going
into the first turn, Funny Cide came up inside of
me and he was real rank. He just kept knocking me
out and knocking me out. I was six wide and finally
I just eased back. He’s a hell of a horse to
put up with what he did and still run on like he did.”
Perfect
Drift crossed the finish line in sixth place.
Winning
jockey Alex Solis, aboard Pleasantly Perfect, knew
to keep an eye out for Gary: “When we got to
the backside,” Solis said, “right away
I started looking to see who I should follow. Right
away I saw Gary Stevens on Perfect Drift in front
of me. I said, ‘That’s one of the horses
to beat,’ so I followed him. Gary is a great
rider, and he went to the inside and I followed him
around the turn. At the quarter pole he was asking
his horse; it seemed like he wasn’t responding
very much. I said, ‘It’s time to go now.’”
True
to form, Gary stopped off to congratulate trainer
Richard Mandella on his day's record-breaking four
wins before hightailing it to an England-bound plane.
Gary will be on red carpets in Ireland and Australia
and says that he’ll “evaluate things”
while abroad, but fear not: “You won’t
be hearing Gary Stevens announcing any retirements
anytime soon,” he told reporters.
NBC
profiled Gary’s experiences aboard Storming
Home as part of its five hours of Breeders’
Cup coverage, emphasizing just how close Gary came
to death on the day of the Arlington Million.
“I
see a hoof coming straight for my face and I said,
‘I’m gonna get killed,’ Gary said
as footage of his horrific spill unspooled. “I
conceded. I said, ‘That’s it.’
“The
horse’s hoof just came down across my clavicle
and stepped on my chest. It just basically burst my
lung.
“I
was dying. They were saying something to the effect
that they were losing me. I was most scared about
the people I love.”
Gary
also spoke about how the spill briefly affected his
desire to race. “I’ve had twenty-five
good years of this,” he said, “and I’ve
won Derbys and Breeders’ Cup races and everything
else, and there comes a time when (I was thinking)
‘All right, how much do I want?’”
NBC
focused on Gary’s locker in Santa Anita’s
jockey room as he continued to discuss the accident’s
aftermath. “Three days in the hospital…
I fly home and within six days I’m thinking
about getting on horses again. When I walked in the
jock’s room on the first day back and I saw
all my boys in there… that’s what’s
love’s all about.
“I’ve
been going inside that jockey’s room since I
was sixteen years old, and it’s a way of life
for me.”
10/24
- Gary was an excellent guest on the WORKS on TVG
with a number of insightful comments. He was embarrased
as he was wearing bluejeans with a coat and tie. He
apologized explaining that on Larry King live, Larry
was wearing jeans because they were hidden behind
a desk. He assumed he would be behind a desk but instead
he was perched on a bar stool for all to see,
10/20:
At Bill Shoemaker's Santa Anita memorial service,
Gary spoke of his introduction to the So. California
jockey colony in 1980: "Nobody had talked to
me and I was intimidated," he said. "Then
they had a doubles pingpong tournament (in the jocks'
room) and I'd only been playing for three weeks. They
drew for partners and it was me and Shoe. "I
was horrified. But in one afternoon, he taught how
me to be competitive, in pingpong and in riding."
Gary
also thanked Amanda, Shoemaker's daughter, for inspiring
her father.
"It
was because of you he gave us 12 more years,"
Stevens said, referencing the 1991car accident that
left the legendary jockey a quadriplegic
10/19:
“There’s no changes since the last time
I rode him or the first time. I love him,” said
jockey Gary Stevens of STORMING HOME. “He’s
a special horse and I’m looking forward to riding
him in the Breeders’ Cup.” This is the
colt who spooked - possibly from an illicit flashing
device in a camera - and unseated Gary strides before
the finish line of the Arlington Million. They were
in the lead at the time of the accident. See
photo>>
10/18
- Perfect Drift, Gary’s mount for the marquee
event of the Breeder’s Cup, was busy at Churchill
Downs at the end of the week, putting in five furlongs
in just 1:00. His trainer, Murray Johnson, had every
reason to be pleased and once again spoke glowingly
of Perfect Drift’s chances with Gary on board.
“We
felt he was the man for the job,” said Johnson.
“He’s patient, and knows when to push
the button. He’ll keep his head about him. He
knows what he’s sitting on.”
Perfect
Drift will ship to Santa Anita this Thursday. “We’ve
just got to have a good trip out there and then a
good racing trip,” Johnson said.
10/18
- Gary made a terrific appearance on Saturday’s
Larry King Live with retired jockey Chris McCarron
and horse owner/celebrity Breeder’s Cup host/game
show maven Merv Griffin. It was one of the first major
television interviews Gary has given since his spill
in August, and he looked well-rested and ready for
a busy Breeder’s Cup on Saturday.
Jay
Cronley of ESPN.com and Andy Belfiore of the NJ Ledger
like Perfect Drift in the Classic.
Scott
Finley and Bob Neumeier (NBC Sports) like Storming
Home in the Turf.
Joe
Nolan of the Oakland Tribune is putting his money
on Storming Home and Perfect Drift.
Ralph
Siraco of the Las Vegas Sun likes Storming Home in
the Turf, too. I like the way he explains why at http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/births/2003/oct/24/515777802.html:
“Americans
Storming Home, Johar and The Tin Man carry the home
banner. On CNN's Larry King Live show, jockey Gary
Stevens said that his spectacular spill from Storming
Home -- resulting in vertebrae damage and a collapsed
lung -- gave him pause for retirement. But, he returned
to the saddle just to ride Storming Home in the Breeders'
Cup. That's good enough for me.”
Andy
Beyer likes Musical Chimes in the Filly and Mare Turf:
Jockey
Stevens touted as one of world’s most beautiful
people
Gary Stevens has officially joined the ranks of the
world’s most beautiful people, at least according
to People magazine.
The
Racing Hall of Fame jockey sheepishly shrugged his
shoulders and flushed slightly on Friday when asked
about his inclusion in People’s annual issue
featuring what it bills as the 50 most beautiful men
and women of the world. Actress Halle Berry is featured
on the magazine’s cover while Ben Affleck, Jennifer
Lopez, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Salma Hayek,
Nicole Kidman, Britney Spears, Reese Witherspoon,
and Catherine Zeta-Jones are among those joining Stevens
on the exclusive list.
"I
have no idea," Stevens said when asked how he
was selected for inclusion in the issue. His role
as legendary jockey George "The Iceman"
Woolf in the upcoming feature movie Seabiscuit apparently
focused Hollywood-style attention on the 40-year-old
Idaho native whose blue eyes punctuate his chiseled
face.
"My
publicist called me about a month ago and told me
People magazine was coming out to do a shoot for a
special edition and I said, ‘What special edition?’
" Stevens recalled. "And she said, ‘The
50 most beautiful people,’ and I said, ‘Get
out of here!’
Stevens
is considering pursuing more acting roles after Seabiscuit,
which is set to premiere in late July. For now, however,
he is concentrating on riding Buddy Gil in Saturday’s
Kentucky Derby (G1) after steering Santa Catarina
to a second-place finish in Friday’s Kentucky
Oaks (G1).
"The
horse is doing great now," he said of Buddy Gil.
"I just want to get through this weekend and
let everything else take care of itself."
Courtesy
of the Thoroughbred Times Daily News (
5/4/03)
Michele
MacDonald
9/27
- Gary rode STORMING HOME to victory in the CLEMENT
L. HIRSCH MEMORIAL TURF CHAMPIONSHIP S. (G1) at Santa
Anita Park and this time STORMING HOME stayed straight
and won. This is the same horse which shied in the
Arlington Millioin causing Gary's terrifying fall
at the finish line. The Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)
is the next target for Storming Home.
Storming Home, ridden by Gary Stevens
(3), en route to winning the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial
Turf Championship Sunday at Santa Anita.
Photo: AP/Benoit
9/6/03
- Gary Stevens named to the first Washington
Hall of Fame class. Jockey Gary Stevens and
champion Chinook Pass are among 12 members of the
first induction class into the Washington Thoroughbred
Racing Hall of Fame.
9/4
- With one mount on Friday, Racing Hall of Fame jockey
Gary Stevens is scheduled to return to riding, less
than three weeks after he suffered a collapsed lung
and fractured vertebra when he fell from Storming
Home (GB) (Machiavellian) in the Arlington Million
Stakes (G1) on August 16. Stevens is booked to ride
Fly to the Wire (Birdonthewire)
8/28
- Gary got back in the saddle this morning at Del
Mar as he continues his recovery. He also wants to
set the record straight that at no time has he considered
himsel some sort of Hollywood "star" concerned
about his appearance. Riding comes first and that
is his focus.
8/23
- Jockey Gary Stevens continues to recover from a
collapsed lung in his Southern California home following
his Tuesday morning discharge from Northwest Community
Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Stevens
suffered his injury on Saturday when his mount, Storming
Home (GB), spooked at the wire in the Arlington Million
(G1). Storming Home finished first but was placed
fourth for interfering with horses behind him. Stevens
was nearly trampled to death, but he escaped with
a collapsed lung and fractured vertebra. Arlington
Park Chairman Richard Duchossois flew Stevens and
his family home on the Duchossois private jet.
"I’m
a little uncomfortable right now, but after seeing
the spill myself, I’m glad to be alive right
now," Stevens said during an afternoon teleconference.
Stevens
said that he has no recollection of the incident.
The last thing he remembers is reaching the top of
the stretch thinking that he was going to be the winner.
Stevens will most likely miss up to a month race riding
because of his injuries, but he has every intention
of returning.
"I
think one month is the maximum," Stevens said.
"They want to make sure the lung has plenty of
time to heal, and I still have some tests that need
to get done."
Stevens
would have been the rider aboard Candy Ride (Arg)
in Sunday’s Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del
Mar. Instead,
"I’ve
spent a lot of time working Candy Ride, and I was
looking forward to the race this weekend," Stevens
said.
Gary
played Red Pollard this time instead of George Woolf,
helping subsititute rider Jule Krone understand Candy
Ride who ran off with the race with ease.
"I
just wanted her to know that you could run this horse
to San Francisco and back," Stevens said. "She
breezed him the other day and she felt the power.
But she needed to know how fit he was. "The main
thing I told her was if Bailey tries to sneak away
at the half, just attack. I said: 'Attack.'
"It's
like a match race when you're seeing how good your
competition is. Take the battle to them. And the race
was over at the three-eighth pole.
"She
rode him to a T."
The
race developed, just as Stevens had told Krone it
would and trainer Ron McAnally and owners Sid and
Jenny Craig envisioned it. Bailey did try to sneak
away with Medaglia d'Oro, and Krone and Candy Ride
attacked and prevailed.
Steven's
Jockey Agent says that Gary shopuld be back riding
by early September if healing goes as expected.
SEABISCUIT
FIRST
COMMENTS after the July 19 screening in Lexington,
KY
“I thought he pretty much stole every scene.
He did a terrific, terrific job. I always thought
he had a lot of presence and charisma. I’ve
seen him do media about his real riding and the camera
loves him, he’s so well spoken. I just hope
we don’t lose him completely to an acting career.”
National
Thoroughbred Racing Association Commissioner Tim Smith
on the performance of jockey Gary Stevens in his role
as George “The Iceman” Woolf in “Seabiscuit.”
Stevens has openly talked in recent weeks of giving
up his Hall of Fame riding career in favor of becoming
a fulltime actor
Gary
Stevens has ridden into the Racing Hall of Fame by
taking risks and making the right choices while successfully
piloting some of America’s best racehorses over
the last two decades. Now he faces a choice that involves
the risk of changing his life drastically—a
decision that could end his career in the saddle in
favor of one in front of cameras as an actor.
Hot
off his starring role as legendary rider George "The
Iceman" Woolf in the movie Seabiscuit, which
will be released later this month, Stevens has found
himself in the vortex of a celebrity whirlwind.
The
August issue of Vanity Fair features him in a photograph
shot in New York during the week before the Belmont
Stakes (G1) in which he sits on a horse, facing the
tail, with his shirt off in what he described as a
"flirtatious pose." From July 9-11, he planned
to take off from riding to participate in a press
junket promoting Seabiscuit, including appearances
on the "Entertainment Tonight" and "Extra!"
television shows. And he will be able to claim for
nearly a year that he is one of People magazine’s
50 most beautiful people, an accolade he earned just
days before the Kentucky Derby (G1).
"I’m
going to have to make a decision here shortly,"
Stevens said on July 3 as he weighed whether to give
up riding for acting.
"The
racing is going unbelievable for me [but] I can’t
focus 100% on riding if things continue like they
have for the past 3 1/2 weeks," he said before
indicating that he perhaps has already made the decision.
Stevens
signed up with the International Creative Management
(ICM) talent agency about a month ago and hired a
theatrical attorney, a publicist, and a manager. ICM
has represented such movie luminaries as Mel Gibson,
Julia Roberts, and Denzel Washington.
"I’m
enjoying it. Who wouldn’t at age 40?" Stevens
said of his newfound celebrity in Hollywood. "I’m
going to give it my best shot and see what comes of
it."
Although
Stevens said he wants to continue riding his top mounts
through the end of 2003, he already is pondering more
acting roles. A television project that he said is
being developed by two "great writers" and
"some pretty powerful people," including
several involved with Seabiscuit, currently has his
attention as work that would be "really, really
fun."
"I’m
having a blast," he declared of the entertainment
business. "I’m having the time of my life.
7/4-
Hollywood Park: Argentine-bred Candy Ride
defeats Special Ring in the American Handicap
Benoit Photo
Jenny
and Sidney Craig's Candy Ride took a major step toward
the head of the Southern California handicap division
with an impressive victory in the American Handicap
(gr. IIT) on the turf.
The
undefeated Argentine 4-year-old colt won his fifth
straight race and his second in the United States.
"The
jets got cranked up at the half-mile pole and they
just kept cranking," said winning rider Gary
Stevens. "He gives me a heck of a good feeling."
"The
Craigs wanted a Pacific Classic horse and Ron got
them one," Stevens enthused
"He's
really serious," Stevens said. I worked him prior
to his last race by that was on the same day as the
Belmont Stakes. Fortunately, I got the mount back.
He's special. I've been on some good ones, but he
gives me a feeling not many do.
Gary
Stevens wins at ROYAL ASCOT in the JERSEY S.-G3 aboard
MEMBERSHIP, a three year old colt bythe US sire Belong
to Me.
MEMBERSHIP
benefitted
from the full Gary Stevens treatment to power away
with this competitive contest. For conditioner Clive
Brittain, the jockey booking was the vital factor.
“We came here with a great chance and I said
to Gary just hold him up, hold him up and hold him
up again and when they’ve gone, you go,”
he explained. “I saw Gary was available and
I clapped my hands because here is a jockey with a
racing brain and the timing that would put this horse
in front, so I’m not surprised.” Breaking
well, the longshot settled in a stalking role under
cover on the stands’ rail behind the furious
early pace. Making smooth progress past halfway, he
ran into a pocket temporarily, but as Arakan and Kieren
Fallon kicked to the front approaching the furlong
marker, that opened up the space for Stevens to commit
the chestnut. Hitting the front with 200 yards remaining,
he quickened clear for a convincing score. “We
got a great trip and Clive said he had a 75- yard
punch on him,” Stevens, enjoying his second
Royal Ascot success, commented. ”Fortunately
we ran into some traffic which helped me because he
was eager to go on earlier than it was going to take.”
Third in the G2 Gimcrack S. last August, Membership
relishes seven furlongs and fast ground. Under those
conditions this term, he was third behind subsequent
G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Indian Haven (GB) in
the Listed European Free H. and runner-up to Trade
Fair (GB) in the Listed King Charles II S.
Gary
Stevens guides Summer Colony to an impressive win
in the Molly Pitcher (G2)
Buddy
Gil makes a move wide on his way to winning the
Santa Anita Derby (G1) - the 9th for GARY STEVENS
- beating Bill Shoemaker's. record.
Said
Gary about the 2003 Kentucky Derby : Buddy Gil
(Eastern Echo) “didn’t break very
well and all I could do was save ground. I really
only got him to run an eighth of a mile. My trip
was over after the second stride out of the gate,
so we’ll wait for the Preakness.”
Santa
Anita Derby (G1) winner Buddy Gil (Eastern Echo)
will get some time off following his sixth-place
finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday,
according to trainer Jeff Mullins, who revealed
that X rays taken on Sunday morning showed bone
chips. Mullins, who trains the Kentucky-bred gelding
for Desperado Stables, would not say where the
chips were located or how severe they were. “He’s
going to the shelf for a while,” Mullins
said. “He’s going to get some rest
because he’s had a hard campaign. We’ll
take more X rays later in the week to determine
whether or not he’ll need surgery or just
rest.”
9/27
- Gary rode STORMING HOME to victory in the CLEMENT
L. HIRSCH MEMORIAL TURF CHAMPIONSHIP S. (G1) at Santa
Anita Park and this time STORMING HOME stayed straight
and won. This is the same horse which shied in the
Arlington Millioin causing Gary's terrifying fall
at the finish line. The Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)
is the next target for Storming Home.
7/4-
Hollywood Park: Argentine-bred Candy Ride
defeats Special Ring in the American Handicap 
Gary
Stevens wins at ROYAL ASCOT in the JERSEY S.-G3 aboard
MEMBERSHIP
benefitted
from the full Gary Stevens treatment to power away
with this competitive contest. For conditioner Clive
Brittain, the jockey booking was the vital factor.
“We came here with a great chance and I said
to Gary just hold him up, hold him up and hold him
up again and when they’ve gone, you go,”
he explained. “I saw Gary was available and
I clapped my hands because here is a jockey with a
racing brain and the timing that would put this horse
in front, so I’m not surprised.” Breaking
well, the longshot settled in a stalking role under
cover on the stands’ rail behind the furious
early pace. Making smooth progress past halfway, he
ran into a pocket temporarily, but as Arakan and Kieren
Fallon kicked to the front approaching the furlong
marker, that opened up the space for Stevens to commit
the chestnut. Hitting the front with 200 yards remaining,
he quickened clear for a convincing score. “We
got a great trip and Clive said he had a 75- yard
punch on him,” Stevens, enjoying his second
Royal Ascot success, commented. ”Fortunately
we ran into some traffic which helped me because he
was eager to go on earlier than it was going to take.”
Third in the G2 Gimcrack S. last August, Membership
relishes seven furlongs and fast ground. Under those
conditions this term, he was third behind subsequent
G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Indian Haven (GB) in
the Listed European Free H. and runner-up to Trade
Fair (GB) in the Listed King Charles II S. 
Gary
Stevens guides Summer Colony to an impressive win
in the Molly Pitcher (G2)
